Upfront/What I know now
Kyle MacLachlan
On podcasting to Gen Z, the power of flowers and the best way to wear a kilt
Recording his life
At the time I started writing my memoir, my son was coming up on 17, and I wanted him to have an understanding of my life—something he could revisit, because he’s not interested now. I lost my dad in 2011, and I often think about how I would love to just ask him a couple questions.
Love for the kids
On my podcast, I talk to artists and musicians from Gen Z and millennials. I think there’s a tendency for people to look at the generations behind them and be dismissive: They don’t do things the way we did, and that’s somehow bad. But I’ve found them to be tremendously hardworking and supportive of each other. They just have a different approach.
Cultivating beauty
I grew up in Yakima in eastern Washington. It’s agricultural. It’s bright sun, hot summers and cold winters. It’s all about growing things. I grew up working with my dad and my brothers in our backyard apple orchard. It was pretty idyllic. And to this day, where I’m happiest is in short pants and tennis shoes, out in the garden just puttering around.
“My dad would cut flowers and put them in a vase—his way of saying ‘I love you.’ ”
—Kyle MacLachlan, 67
Owning who you were and who you are
When I watch an early film of mine like Blue Velvet, I look at the performance and cringe. But if I could give that younger me advice—though he certainly wouldn’t have listened to me—it would be: Put more trust in yourself. Know that you can’t do everything and be OK with that. You’re not going to be right for everything, but you’re going to be really right for some things.
Channeling his Scottish heritage
I’ve been known to wear a kilt. And this is probably sacrilege, but I always think it looks best when you pair it with a T-shirt and maybe a Doc Martens boot. It’s a rugged, flattering look.
The balance of good and bad
While filming Showgirls, I felt good. Then I saw it. Just awful. Cut to a few years later and people now enjoy it. Over time, I’ve done different things—some great, some regular. And that all balances out somehow. —As told to Chris Nashawaty
Golden Globe–winning actor Kyle MacLachlan, star of such films as Blue Velvet and TV shows like Twin Peaks and Sex and the City, hosts the popular podcast What Are We Even Doing? and just released his memoir, Fictional Selves.
For video of MacLachlan, go to aarp.org/maclachlan